WASHINGTON (Ma'an) -- US Mediators will meet in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm Ash-Sheikh on Tuesday, and then move Wednesday to Jerusalem where talks will continue.

"The Egyptians have volunteered to host a round of direct negotiations," State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley told reporters Wednesday, and confirmed that a move to Jerusalem for a second day of talks had been agreed to during discussions the week before.

Crowley gave no explanation for the change in location, which was expected to be Egypt for both days of talks.

Israeli press reports said Wednesday that a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas would take place in Jericho following the 14-15 talks. No date was specified, but reports said the meeting would be before the end of an Israeli-mandated settlement-construction freeze on 26 September.